Luggage case hanger apparatus

ABSTRACT

A flat sheetlike metal member is formed into a substantial Ushape, the major opening between the body legs being the hanger hook receiving and retaining space. The outer end portions of the body legs are formed at 90* to the legs; the first extending slightly over the open end of the body and the second extending away from the open end. An adjusting knob has a shaft received within the second body leg portion and is rotatable to bring a bifurcated clasp into and out of engagement with the first Ushaped body end portion. At one extreme position of the locking knob, the clasping members engage the first leg end portion, thereby closing the opening of the U-shaped body, and at the other adjustment extreme, the opening is left unobstructed. A pair of upstanding ears are formed to extend inwardly from the leg a slight distance for temporarily retaining a hanger hook that is placed thereon while subsequent hangers are being mounted.

United States Patent Samhammer et al.

1451 May 13, 1975 15 1 LUGGAGE CASE HANGER APPARATUS 3.773.184 11/1973 Brennan 211/123 [75] Inventors: Clair A. Samhammer, Irvine; David FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS Workman, g both of 907.588 7 1945 France 24 241 P Calif; Marvin M. King, Denver 1,340.33) 9/1963 France 24/241 P Colo. 5l(),625 8/1939 United Kingdom 190/41 B [73] Asslgnce: zamsomtte ('orporauon Denver Primary Examin0rWilliam H. Schultz Assistant E.\'aminerThomas J. Holko [22] Filed: May 13, 1974 Attorney, Agenl, or Firm-George J. Netter, Esq.

[2]] Appl. No.: 469,392 ABSTRACT A flat sheetlike metal member is formed into a sub- [52] U.S. Cl 2| l/] 13; 190/41 B; 21 HI 23; mmi l uha e, the major opening between the body 248/203 legs being the hanger hook receiving and retaining Int. Cl. i i v i i pacc The uter end portions of the legs are Field of Search 21 H 1 H3, formed at 90 to the legs; the first extending slightly 2] H124; 190/41 B; 206/279, 285, 284. 289; ver the open end of the body and the second extend- 305, 306; 24/241 241 SP; ing away from the open end An adjusting knob has a 224/42-l CA, 4245 A 42-46 A shaft received within the second body leg portion and is rotatable to bring a bifurcated clasp into and out of References Cited engagement with the first U-shaped body end portion. UNITED STATES PATENTS At one extreme position of the locking knob, the 754.4113 3/1904 Mustgrove H 248/203 clawing members engage the first leg end Portion, L1 20542 ]2/19|4 Rogers 2 03 X thereby closing the opening of the U-shaped body, and 1,698,859 H1929 Trontacoste 190/41 B X at the other adjustment extreme, the opening is left 1948,01) 2/1934 Ballentine... 21 l/1l3 X unobstructed. A pair of upstanding ears are formed to 3 L W y l90/4 B X extend inwardly from the leg a slight distance for tem- 2363807 11/1944 Drcsncr 90/41 B porarily retaining a hanger hook that is placed thereon il-iif ct all" ith while subsequent hangers are being mounted. 2:565:96) 8/1951 Judson 190/41 B X 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures l u I um' l 1"" i l p" I i I "I o o l l ,v" i I i i a' E I n o g o i l o I I l E 1 E l f l LUGGAGE CASE HANGER APPARATUS The subject invention pertains generally to luggage case hanger apparatus, and, more particularly, to apparatus for mounting on the internal wall of a luggage case which is adaptable for receiving a plurality of clothes hanger hooks thereon and temporarily locking them in place.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object and aim of the subject invention to provide improved clothes hanger mounting apparatus for use with a luggage case.

Another object is to provide apparatus mounted on a luggage case wall onto which clothes hangers may be hung and including temporary locking means associated therewith which are easily and readily adjusted to either the open or closed condition.

A further object of the invention is the provision of luggage case hanger mounting apparatus as in the above objects, having temporary hanger retaining means which prevents the earlier arranged hangers from inadvertently becoming disengaged while subsequent hangers are placed thereon.

Yet another object is the provisiion of luggage case hanger mounting apparatus which is inexpensive to manufacture, readily mounted in a luggage case and simple to use.

The hanger mounting apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention includes a flat sheetlike metal member which is formed into a substantially U- shape, the major, opening between the body legs being the hanger hook receiving and retaining space. The outer end portions of the body legs are formed at 90to the legs, the first extending slightly over the open end of the body and the second extending away from the open end. An adjusting knob has a shaft rotatably received within the second body leg portion and adjustably rotated to bring a bifurcated clasp into and out of engagement with the first U-shaped body end portion. That is, at one extreme position of the locking knob, the clasping members engage the first leg end portion, thereby closing the opening of the U-shaped body, and at the other adjustment extreme, the opening is left unobstructed. A pair of upstanding ears are formed to extend inwardly from the leg a slight distance for temporarily retaining a hanger hook that is placed thereon while subsequent hangers are being mounted.

In use, the U-shaped body of the hanger apparatus is secured to, say, the upper inner wall of a luggage case by rivets or other suitable means. The locking knob is rotated to the open position at which time one or more hanger hooks may then be inserted through into the opening, after which the locking knob is rotated to the closed position to secure the hooks in place.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of a luggage case depicting the hanger mounting apparatus of this invention with a clothes hanger mounted thereon.

FIG. 2 is a perspective, enlarged view of the hanger mounting apparatus of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional, side elevational view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2

FIG. 4 is a sectional, front elevational view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3

FIG. 5 is a sectional, plan view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4. 5-5.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now to the drawings and particularly FIG. 1, there is shown there a portion of an open luggage case 10, Onto an inner wall of which the apparatus of this invention, identified generally as at 11, is affixed, and from which a hanger 12, carrying apparel 13, is supported. In a way that will be more particularly described, the hanger support apparatus 11 is selectively manipulatable to either an open or a closed condition. In the open condition, one or more hangers 12 with apparel of varying kinds may be received thereon, after which the apparatus is closed and fully retains the hangers and apparel within the case in a predetermined orientation.

With reference now simultaneously to both FIGS. 2 and 3, the hanger mounting apparatus 11 is seen to include a flat sheetlike metal member which is formed into a generally U-shape with first and second legs 14 and 15, respectively, held parallel and spaced apart by the arcuatelend wall 16. The outer end portion of the second leg 15 is formed at substantially to the leg proper, extending away therefrom and enumerated as 17. A circular opening 18 in the formed end portion 17 is for mounting a control knob 19 as will be more particularly described.

The outer end portion 20 of the first leg 14 is formed at 90to the leg and in the same direction as portion 20. Specifically, the end portion 20 only extends into the U-shape body opening a slight amount, leaving it substantially unobstructed. As seen best in FIG. 5, the outer end portion 20 includes a pair of projections 21 and 22, formed on the inwardly facing surface, which projections are spaced from one another a distance D as measured across the width of 20.

At each side of the second leg 15 and closely adjacent the open end of the U-shaped body, there are provided two upstanding retention ears 23. These ears have a substantially radiused front leading edge 24 to enhance sliding receipt of hanger hooks 12 thereover and not impede them. The inner edge 25 of each ear faces toward the hanger hook space 26 and, as will be more particularly described, serves to retain the hooks within the space 26 as others are being added.

With reference now primarily to FIG. 2, it is seen that the first leg 14 is wider than leg 15 and includes portions 27 and 28 extending, respectively, outwardly beyond the sides of 15 and within which one or more mounting openings 29 are formed.

The outer surface of the U-shaped body is provided with a continuous groove 30 extending along substantially the full length of leg 15, around the arcuate portion 16 and for approximately one-half of the leg 14. In particular, the groove 30 is preferably produced by a stamping process which simultaneously forms a corre sponding raised portion 31 along the inner surface. The groove and eraised portion 30 and 31 strengthen the entire U-shaped body especially against deformation from the hanging weight of apparel.

Turning now to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the control knob 19 is seen to include a generally disc-like body 32 with a mounting means 33 and a bifurcated clasp 34 on one side, and a projecting finger grip 35 on the other side.

The control knob mounting means consists of a pair of spaced pronglike members extending away from the disc-like body 32 at substantially 90 and so dimensioned as to be fittingly received within the opening 18 of the U-shaped body. Specifically, as the pronglike members are passed through the opening 18 they are compressed toward each other a slight amount, and when fully seated (FIG. 3) the body wall edges defining the opening 18 are locked onto the members 33 by shoulders 36.

The bifurcated clasp 34 includes the back surface of the disc-like member 32 and a hook shaped blade integral therewith and having its outer end spaced slightly from the back surface. As seen best in FIG. 5, the end portion of the clasp blade has a width equal to or slightly less than the width D between the projections 21 and 22 such that on rotation of the knob to the closed position (FIGS. 35) the blade is secured between the projections. The relative dimensions and construction of the control know and U-shaped body are such that when the knob is in the closed position the back surface of 32 and the end of the hooklike blade contact the respective sides of end portion 20. The blade is formed as an L-shaped hook in order that only the tip of the blade end contacts the end portion 20, which insures resilient contact while preventing excessive drag during rotation.

The control knob 19 is preferably constructed of a molded plastic which has not only the necessary strength characteristics, but is sufficiently resilient for the pronglike members 33 and the clasp 34 to snap in and out of operative position in a positive manner.

in use, the hanger mounting apparatus 11 is secured to an inner luggage case wall via threaded means or rivets affixed to the wall through the openings 29. The control knob 19 is then adjusted to the open position and one or more hanger hooks, as desired, are inserted into the opening of the U-shaped body, after which the control know 19 is adjusted to the closed position. Since, in the usual situation, wearing apparel is carried by the hangers, the bulkiness of the apparel tends to lever the hanger hooks outwardly of the space 26. Now, however, the cars 23 engage to hanger hooks and retain them within the space 26 even when the control knob is in the open position unless the hooks are positively removed.

We claim: 1. Luggage case hanger mounting apparatus comprisa flat metal body formed into a substantial U-shape with first and second parallel legs separated by a curved end wall;

the end portion of the first leg being formed toward the second leg and obstructing only part of the opening between the legs;

the end of the second leg being formed in a direction away from the first leg, said second leg end portion including an opening passing therethrough; and

a finger operated control rotatably mounted onto the U-shaped metal body via parts of the control extending through the second leg end portion opening, said control including other parts formed into a clasp which engages the first leg end portion during a limited extent of the control rotation.

2. Luggage case hanger mounting apparatus as in claim 1, in which an ear is further provided on one of said legs extending into the space between the first and second legs.

3. Luggage case hanger mounting apparatus as in claim 1, in which the first leg end portion includes a pair of projections arranged at such a mutual spacing as to receive and locate the clasp therebetween.

4. Luggage case hanger mounting apparatus as in claim 1, in which the first leg is wider than the second leg and includes at least one opening in a portion of the first leg which extends beyond the first leg via which means secure the U-shaped body to the luggage case.

5. Luggage case hanger apparatus as in claim 1, in which an ear is provided on the second leg and having a convexly curved edge facing outwardly toward the control.

6. Luggage case hanger apparatus as in claim 1, in which the flat metal body includes a continuous groove extending along one side of the first and second legs and the curved end wall, the other side thereof having a corresponding projection. 

1. Luggage case hanger mounting apparatus comprising: a flat metal body formed into a substantial U-shape with first and second parallel legs separated by a curved end wall; the end portion of the first leg being formed toward the second leg and obstructing only part of the opening between the legs; the end of the second leg being formed in a direction away from the first leg, said second leg end portion including an opening passing therethrough; and a finger operated control rotatably mounted onto the U-shaped metal body via parts of the control extending through the second leg end portion opening, said control including other parts formed into a clasp which engages the first leg end portion during a limited extent of the control rotation.
 2. Luggage case hanger mounting apparatus as in claim 1, in which an ear is further provided on one of said legs extending into the space between the first and second legs.
 3. Luggage case hanger mounting apparatus as in claim 1, in which the first leg end portion includes a pair of projections arranged at such a mutual spacing as to receive and locate the clasp therebetween.
 4. Luggage case hanger mounting apparatus as in claim 1, in which the first leg is widEr than the second leg and includes at least one opening in a portion of the first leg which extends beyond the first leg via which means secure the U-shaped body to the luggage case.
 5. Luggage case hanger apparatus as in claim 1, in which an ear is provided on the second leg and having a convexly curved edge facing outwardly toward the control.
 6. Luggage case hanger apparatus as in claim 1, in which the flat metal body includes a continuous groove extending along one side of the first and second legs and the curved end wall, the other side thereof having a corresponding projection. 